Spectacled Owl

Spectacled Owl

Geographical Range

Southern Mexico to tropical South America

Habitat

Forests, woodlands, savannas, plantations

Scientific Name

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Conservation Status

Common

This owl gets its name from the pattern of feathers around its eyes -- they make it look like it’s wearing spectacles! Like most owls, the spectacled owl is active mostly at night. It’s an efficient hunter, feeding on mammals, insects, and other birds.

Young spectacled owls (known as owlets) are mostly white with a dark face mask.They look so different from the adults they were once thought to be a separate species.

Fun Fact

The Saint Louis Zoo has hatched so many of these owls that they have gone to many other zoos around the world.